How to Apply to Business at Western University: Ivey HBA Is a “2+2” Program—Apply for AEO From High School, Join Ivey in Third Year—and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Western University’s undergraduate business degree is the Honours Business Administration (HBA) at Ivey Business School. Unlike most Canadian business programs, it is a “2+2” program: you spend your first two years at Western or an affiliated college (Huron or King’s) in any faculty and program, then complete HBA1 and HBA2 at Ivey in third and fourth year. High school students therefore can’t apply to HBA directly; instead they apply for Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO) status. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on Western’s and Ivey’s official information, for students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. Two routes into Ivey

• AEO from high school: AEO students have conditional pre-admission to HBA and enter in third year if they meet the progression requirements.
• Direct HBA application in second year: students at Western and other universities can apply in second year or later.
• Proportions: Ivey’s pages differ. The secondary school page says about 75% of the HBA class were AEOs; the AEO and university-student pages say about two-thirds, with the remaining third from Western and other universities.
• AEO progression: Ivey says about 80% of AEO students who want to continue to HBA make it.

2. Applying for AEO from high school

• Two steps:
  • apply to Western or an affiliate on OUAC, in any program for your first two years, and tick “Ivey Advanced Entry Opportunity”; AEO is a status, not a program choice;
  • submit the separate AEO supplemental application on Ivey’s website. Ticking the OUAC box alone is not an application.
• A competitive application:
  • a low-90s average in your best Grade 12 courses, including English;
  • one Grade 12 university-preparatory math course (in Ontario any of MHF4U, MCV4U or MDM4U, with no preference); math need not be among your top grades, only completed before Ivey;
  • demonstrated leadership in extracurriculars, community involvement and work.
• Assessment: academics and leadership are weighted 50/50. Ivey has no cut-off average and reviews every application; Western’s admissions office calculates averages, using the top six courses including English for Ontario students.
• IB: Ivey’s FAQ says IB scores of about 36–37 and higher (including bonus points) will generally meet the AEO average.
• What the supplemental application asks for:
  • non-academic awards (for example community service or competition placements);
  • extracurriculars: two activities as essays (up to 500 words each) plus up to five in point form, seven in total. Each needs a verifiable reference; applications without verified references aren’t considered. Credit-bearing activities such as co-op placements don’t count;
  • a Kira Talent video interview: five questions with preparation and timed responses, usually 20–30 minutes in one sitting, completed any time before the deadline, with unlimited practice.
• Deadline: AEO applications close 15 January 2027 at 11:59 pm ET, the same day as Western’s OUAC deadline for equal consideration.
• Decisions: AEO is a separate decision and requires a Western offer first. The first round of AEO offers goes out at the end of March, with most in April and May. Offers aren’t made on Grade 11 grades, but some strong applicants with competitive first-term Grade 12 grades get offers earlier.

3. AEO progression requirements

• Study at Western or an affiliate for two years with a full 5.0-credit load each year;
• an overall two-year average of at least 80% in 10.0 credits (78% for Engineering), passing all courses;
• enrol in a module in second year (not undeclared) and take Business 2257 with at least 70%;
• complete a Grade 12 university-preparatory math equivalent if you didn’t in high school;
• stay involved in extracurriculars, submit an activity report after year 1, and complete the AEO2 Intent to Register application in year 2 (the 2027 deadline is 28 January 2027), with a video interview if requested.
• Advanced standing credits (for example from AP) don’t count toward the 10.0 credits.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• You must meet Western’s requirements for your chosen program. BC: five acceptable academic Grade 12 courses; prerequisites depend on the program.
• AEO math: any of Ontario’s three Grade 12 U math courses, or any Grade 12 university-bound math elsewhere.
• Ontario students’ grades reach Ivey through OUAC; out-of-province and international applicants can email updated transcripts to hba@ivey.ca.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Documents (Western’s requirements for China): senior secondary transcript (completed and in-progress subjects), graduation diploma, Huikao/academic proficiency test results (or a school letter if your province doesn’t hold them), Gaokao results, and English test scores; non-English documents need official English translations.
• After admission: your school sends all final transcripts and documents directly to WES Canada for a “WES-Basic Document-by-Document ICAP” report, which WES forwards to Western.
• Ivey for international applicants: you must meet Western’s admission requirements; AEO and HBA decisions consider academics and the Ivey supplemental application.

6. English requirements (Western)

• IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band;
• TOEFL iBT: new scale 4.5 overall with 4.0 in reading, speaking and writing and 4.5 in listening; old scale 83 with 20 in each section;
• PTE Academic 58 (56 in each). Applicants slightly below may be offered the pre-term English Boost program, for example with IELTS 5.5 (5.5 reading and writing, 5.0 others).

7. University and transfer students applying to HBA

• Timing: usually in second year, though third- and fourth-year applications are possible; the HBA application deadline is 28 January 2027.
• Minimums: a full course load over two years (10.0 Western credits), at least 70% across 10.0 credits, Business 2257 or an approved equivalent with at least 70%, and a Grade 12 university-preparatory math course (Grade 11 math doesn’t count).
• Competitive: an 80%+ average on 10.0 university credits (transferable to Western if taken elsewhere), plus leadership and extracurriculars. Ivey prefers records made up mainly of in-person fall/winter courses.
• Other universities: Ivey accepts transfers but admission is highly competitive. Your Business 2257 equivalent must be on the approved list; otherwise send detailed syllabi to Ivey by the end of January, and textbooks for courses taken outside Canada. Students in fourth year of a business program aren’t eligible.

8. Tuition and scholarships

• HBA tuition (2026–27, HBA1 = year 3): international $70,040, out-of-province Canadians $32,160, Ontario $25,704; plus ancillary fees of about $2,600 a year for international students and about $1,750 in HBA1 course materials. Ivey’s table doesn’t list an HBA2 figure.
• Years 1 and 2: tuition follows your Western program; see Western’s fees pages.
• Scholarships: exceptional international AEO students entering Western in year 1 are automatically reviewed for awards of $2,500 to $8,000; international HBA applicants who complete the “apply for awards” section are considered for Ivey admission scholarships.

Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply to any Western program on OUAC, tick AEO, and finish the AEO supplemental application by 15 January 2027
• Prepare two activity essays (500 words each), references for every activity, and the Kira video interview
• Aim for a 90%+ Grade 12 average and complete a Grade 12 university-prep math course

Students at high schools in China:

• Same two steps by 15 January; prepare transcripts, diploma, Huikao and Gaokao results with translations
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per band) or TOEFL 4.5 new scale; verify documents through WES after admission

Transfer and university students:

• Apply to HBA in second year by 28 January; an 80%+ average on 10.0 credits is competitive, with at least 70% in Business 2257 or an equivalent

Sources: Western University and Ivey Business School, Ivey HBA; Secondary school students (AEO); Advanced Entry Opportunity; University students applying to Ivey; International candidates; HBA tuition; Western admission deadlines; English language proficiency; Requirements for students in China; Requirements for BC students. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check Western and Ivey for the latest details.